46 



northern arteries or rivers is in some degree unfavora- 

 ble. The winds, which, unobstructed, follow almost in- 

 variably the general course of the valleys of these rivers, 

 bring down alternately from high northern regions, and 

 from other climes, a degree of cold, during winter, the 

 most intense and destructive. On the best authority I 

 am assured that the pear, and particularly the peach 

 and the cherry, have during the last winters suffered 

 partial destruction in the valley of the Connecticut, as 

 far south as the country around the city of Hartford, and 

 even still farther downwards and towards the sea. And 

 even the mulberry tree in these regions, is, as I am in- 

 formed, liable to perish in its top in certain seasons. 

 Even far below the city of Albany, on the Hudson or 

 North river, the cherry tree particularly, arid many other 

 trees which are equally as hardy, and especially during 

 all the period of their younger years, are, as I am assured, 

 extremely liable to suffer death during winter, from the 

 same destructive climate and causes. 



The proper soils for the mulberry tree are " dry, san* 

 dy, or. stony" And trees growing on dry, sandy or 

 stony soils, and situated on the open plains, and on hills 

 the most exposed to cold winds, will be found to suffer 

 least of all from the destructive frosts of autumn and of 

 winter. With all authors I must agree in recommend- 

 ing a soil of but moderate fertility, and least of all a 

 cold, moist, and heavy soil on a clay foundation, or even 

 a very rich soil ; a dry soil on a friable subsoil, on gen- 

 tle elevations or declivities, being the most suitable of 

 all for the mulberry from China. 



Land of middling quality will answer admirably ; land 

 less calculated for other profitable cultivation. Land 

 half covered with rocks, may be profitably covered with 

 mulberry trees, which will here find ample moisture, and 

 nourishment, and warmth, from the direct and reflected 

 rays of the sun. 



This culture alone is wanting to render the less fertile 

 sections of our fine country rich. Before the introduc- 



